Thoughts on everyday life and inspiring others to contribute to life in a positive way.

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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Afraid Of The Dark

Ever find
yourself suddenly awake, but not too much so, and you can’t remember where you
are?On a trip somewhere and at a
relative’s house or a hotel when you wake up and a brief feeling of panic sets
in until you orient yourself as to where you are?

Ever Afraid Of
The Dark?

Tuck your head
under the covers to get away, to hide from some unknown monster, real or
imagined, lurking over you, hot breath on your neck, your cheek?Perhaps keeping the door open just a bit to
keep you aware and connected to others in other parts of the house?Perhaps a nightlight, safe and friendly, to
reassure you that all is well, to help you find your way should you wake up in
the dark?

Todd was a
student of mine many, many years ago.Tough life.A life he never spoke
to others about.Well, at least not too
many others.A ninth grader.Oldest of three, with a younger brother and
an even younger sister.Lived in an
apartment with his parents. Didn’t have
much, but didn’t complain.Never heard
him complain.Never.

Todd always kept
his door open with a nightlight on in the hallway.Always.All of the time he was in high school.

Todd wasn’t
Afraid Of The Dark.At least, not for
himself.Mostly, he was afraid for his
younger brother and sister.Afraid for
them.

Most nights,
especially on weekends, Todd’s father would come home drunk, usually late at
night, and find some reason to beat up his wife, Todd’s mother.She would distract him, while Todd would
scramble to his brother’s and sister’s rooms, gather them up, and together,
they would hide under one of the beds.Todd would hold them, whisper to them, protect them. The youngest might
fall asleep.Perhaps the younger
brother.But not Todd.Not until all was safe.Not until Todd was sure his brother and sister
were safe.Because after his father
tired of his mother, he would seek out Todd or Todd’s brother or sister.

Afraid Of The
Dark.

Who knows what
might linger in the dark for us . . . for others.Who knows what monster might be out there
waiting, lurking with hot breath on our neck, our cheek.Who knows how many sleepless nights there are
for those around us.Worries of bills
piling up and not enough money to pay them off.Worries about a college-aged son or daughter and what choices . . . what
chances . . . they might make, might have.Worries about the health of a loved one . . . a husband, a wife, a son,
a daughter, a parent.Worried about
their own health . . . impending death . . . and how that might impact their
own loved ones.

Afraid Of The
Dark.

Many reasons why
there might be a nightlight in the room, in the hallway.Many reasons why one pulls the covers over
one’s head.To hide.To protect.And, there are many whose lives are not as ordered, not as safe, not as
protected as ours might be.Eating lunch
next to us.Answering the phone as you
call to complain.Sitting at the desk
next to you.In the room down the
hall.Sitting at the desk in front of
you.Walking down the hallway alone,
with shoulders hunched, silently waging a battle you might not ever know about,
might not ever understand.But very much
Afraid Of The Dark.Very much so.Something to think about . . .